The artist was born in London in 1906 and died in 1988. She was the daughter of the art collector Guy Bellingham-Smith and niece of Hugh Bellingham-Smith. She married the artist Rodrigo Moynihan in 1931, separating in 1957. She studied at the Slade between 1928 -31 and was highly regarded by Tonks. Elinor showed at the London Group and Leicester Galleries with a one woman show in 1948. Her important image 'The Island', executed for the Festival of Great Britain in 1951 was purchased by the Arts Councl Collection. She is well represented in the Tate. She had a memorial exhibition at the New Grafton, one year after her death in 1989.